Bedclothing and mattress clamp



No. 751,010. PATENTED' FEB. 2, 1904.-

' A. w. PYLE.

BEDGLOTHING' AND MATTRESS CLAMP.

APPLIGATION mum AUG. 15, 1903.

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Wiigasses Y I lbgegir,

oJ lfepgzys- BATENTED FEB. 2, 1904.

' A. w. PYLE. BEDOLOTHING AND MATTRESS CLAMP.

rrmouron 11.21) AUG-.15, 1903.

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I I l I 1 I l 1 h u u el lfargzys UNITED STATES Patented February 2, 1904:.

PATENT OFFICE.

BEDCLOTHING AND MATTRESS CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 751,010, dated February 2, 1904.

Application filed August 15, 1903.

To (0Z1 whom, it may concern:

- Be it known that I, ABNER VVINoHEs'rER PYLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hopkinsville, in the county of Christian and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Bedclothing and Mattress Clamp, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices employed for holding the bedclothing and mattress in position upon bed-frames, more particularly in connection with folding beds, and has for its object to simplify and improvedevices of this character and produce an attachment for folding beds which will eflectually prevent the displacement of the mattress and clothing while the bed is not in use and which may become a part of the bed-frame when the latter is opened for use as a bed; and the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter shown and described, and specified in the claims.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention, in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding-bed frame with the improvement applied. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional side elevation. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a folding-bed frame, illustrating a modified form of the improvement.

The improved device may be attached to any of the various forms of folding or other beds, but for the purpose of illustration is shown applied to a conventional form of folding bed, representing the cabinet or inclosing casing and 11 the bed-frame pivotally connected at the head end 12 in the cabinet and free to swing into a horizontal position when required for use and foldable into a vertical position within the cabinet when not in use in the ordinary manner.

The bed-frame 11 is formed with extended side and end members and provided with means, such as a woven wire or other spring, for sustaining the mattress, the sides and ends of the frame thus effectually preventing all lateral or horizontal movement to the mattress and bedclothing.

For the purpose of illustration a conven- Serial No. 169,633. 1 (No model.)

tional form'of the mattress and bedclothing are indicated in dotted lines at 13 to represent their form and relative location.

The footboard member of the bed-frame is provided with a separable member (represented' at M) which forms an extension of the footboard when in open position, as shown in full lines in Figs.'1 and 3 and in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The member 14 is provided at the ends with coupling bars or arms 15 16, rigidly connected by their outer ends to the member 14 and pivotally connected near their other ends to the inner faces of the side members of the bed-frame and spacedfrom the end member of the same, as shown. By .this means it will be noted the bars 15 16 stand at an angle to the footboard member '14 and always retain the same relative position thereto, so that when folded inward, as shown in Fig. 2, the member 14 will engage the mattress and bedclothing at an angle thereto or by one of the corners, thereby materially increasing its grip upon the mattress and clothing and eifectually obviatin'g any tendency of the latter to become displaced so long as the member 14 is held in engagement therewith.

The supporting-bars 1'5 16 extend beyond their pivots, and between these extended ends and the foot end'of the frame 11 lock-bars 17 are pivoted by one end, as at 18, with their other end free to swing, and they are provided with spaced ratchet-teeth 19 on the sides next the bars and with which the free ends of the extensions on the bars engage, as shown.

The lock-bars are held in yieldable engagement with the supporting-bars by springs 20, as shown, and are provided with means, such as cords 21, whereby they may be drawn rearwardly when it is desired to release them.

The cords 21 will preferably be conducted to a point convenient to the hand of the operator at the inner surface of the foot member of the frame, where they will be concealed from view.

The ratchet-teeth 19 being inclined on one side, as shown, when the footboard member 14 is folded down into position to engage the mattress it will be obvious that the extended ends of the bars 15 16 will freely run over the teeth and be engaged thereby, and thus automatically lock the footboard into engagement with the mattress and bedclothing, as shown in Fig. 2, and hold it in that position until released by the operator drawing upwardly on the cord 21. By this simple means the footboard member 14: may be compressed cornerwise or at an angle to the mattress and bedclothing and very firmly grip them, the footboard being also rendered adjustable relative to the mattress and bedclothing by the plurality of the ratchet-teeth, so that mattresses of Various thicknesses may be held with equal force by the same holding means.

The foot member of the bed-frame, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with a catch 22, and movably attached to the outer surface of the footboard member 14:, near its lower edge, is a bar 23, haying spaced ratchet-teeth 24, adapted to engage the catch 22 when the footboard member is folded into engagement with the mattress and bedclothing, and thus provide an intermediate holding means for the footboard member, which may be necessary under some circumstances. The member 23 thus coacts with the coupling-bars 15 16 to secure the desired results.

When the footboard member is to be released, it is only necessary to detach the bar member 23 from the catch member 22, as will be obvious.

The member 14 is provided with an extension-rib 25, which by pressing into the bedding and mattress materially increases the grip and lessens the liability of their release when the member 1 1 is in operative position. The member 14 may be entirely distinct from the adjacent end member of the framell and foldable against it, if preferred, and the form of the member 14: could be changed and modified to adapt it to different forms of bedframe. The releasing means 21 may also be modified, if required; but these changes would not be a departure from the principle of the invention or sacrifice any of its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is I 1. A bedframe, amemberseparablymounted on the footboard of said bed-frame and forming an extension thereof, supportingarms rigidly fastened at one end'to said footboard member and pivotally connected at their other ends with the bed-frame at points spaced from said footboard, the footboard extension being adapted to swing out upon the outer surface of the mattress and bedclothing with one edge in angular engagement therewith, and adjustable means for locking said arms into engagement with said frame to maintain said footboard member in its outswung position, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a bed-frame of a footboard member separably mounted on the footboard of the bed-frame and forming an extension thereto, arms rigidly connected at one end to said footboard member and pivotally connected at their other ends to the sides of the frame at points spaced from the foot thereof, said arms being extended beyond their pivotal points, spring-controlled lockbars detachably connected to said extended ends, and means carried by said frame for releasing said lock-bars, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with a bed-frame of a footboard member separably mounted on the foot of the bed-frame and forming an extension thereto, arms rigidly connected at one end to said footboard member and pivotally connected by their other ends to the sides of the frame and spaced from the foot thereof, said arms being extended beyond their pivotal points, lock-bars having spaced notches and spring supported in yieldable engagement with said arm extensions when the footboard member is depressed, and means carried by said bed-frame for releasing said lock-bars, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with a bed-frame of a clampingboard, a curved arm rigidly secured at one end to said board and pivotally connected near its other end with a side member of the bed-frame at a point spaced from the footboard, and means for locking said arm in outswung position to hold said clampingboard in engagement with the bedclothes.

5. The combination with a bed-frame of a footboard member separably mounted on the foot of the bed-frame and forming an extension thereto, arms rigidly connected at one end to the ends of said footboard member and pivotally connected by their other ends to said frame at points spaced from the foot thereof, said arms being extended beyond their pivotal points, spring-controlled lock-bars in yieldable engagement with said extended ends, means carried by said frame for releasing said lock-bars, a catch upon the foot member of said frame, and a notched bar movably connected intermediately of said footboard member and adapted for detachable engagement with said catch, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ABNER WINCHESTER PYLE.

Witnesses:

WVM. S. DAVISON, D. F. SMITHSON. 

